Bihar ropeway collapse: Inquiry reveals ‘grave negligence’, engineers suspended, contractor to be blacklisted

The ropeway project, intended to improve access to the Rohtasgarh Fort, was undergoing a load test on December 26 when its tower and the four cabins that were being used in the trial got damaged. (Express Photo)

The Bihar government has decided to suspend two engineers and initiate the process of blacklisting the contractor after a newly constructed ropeway collapsed during a trial run in Rohtas district last weekend, Road Construction Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal said on Tuesday.

“The inquiry has revealed grave negligence by the contractor as well as departmental engineers,” the minister said, adding that the investigation report also found “technical faults, along with violation of safety norms and prescribed procedures during the trial run”.

The ropeway is being built by Kolkata-based Ropeway and Resource Private Limited (RRPL).

The project, which is part of efforts to boost tourism in the area, connects Rohtas block to the historic Rohtasgarh Fort and the Rohiteshwar Dham. The ropeway spans 1,324 metres and will feature 18 cabins, each capable of carrying four passengers at a time. It was scheduled to open to tourists in January 2026.

The minister said that one of the towers was damaged after the wire rope slipped during the return movement of the system. “During the load trial, when the cabins were returning, the wire rope slipped, leading to damage to tower number five,” he said.

He added that no representative of the contractor was present at the terminal point or near the damaged tower during the trial. “The investigation found that the trial was conducted without adequate safety arrangements. Neither the contractor’s representatives nor technical personnel were present at critical locations. This amounts to gross negligence,” Jaiswal said.

Based on the findings, the government has decided to suspend the project engineer and the junior engineer associated with the project. “Additionally, the process to blacklist the construction company responsible for executing the ropeway has also been initiated,” Jaiswal said.

The minister further said that the state government had engaged experts from IIT Patna to conduct an additional examination of the load distribution and structural plans used for the ropeway. “IIT Patna has been asked to assess if there were any flaws in the structural design or load distribution that might have contributed to the incident,” he said, adding that “its report will be received subsequently”.

The project is being implemented under the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation, an undertaking of the Road Construction Department, at an estimated cost of Rs 13 crore.

After the accident, the chairman of the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation constituted the committee to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, examining technical, administrative and human factors involved.

According to locals, the ropeway project has faced repeated delays since construction began in February 2020, missing its initial deadline of 14 months as well as subsequent timelines.